President Faye Forms New Party Amid Rift With Former Prime Minister
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has established a new political party, marking a formal separation from former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the ruling Pastef movement that brought him to power in 2024. The announcement was made during a political gathering in Dakar, where the president introduced the new platform as a major force in the country’s political landscape.
The development follows a prolonged power struggle between Faye and Sonko, who were previously key allies in Senegal’s reformist movement. Tensions between the two leaders escalated in recent months, culminating in Faye’s decision to remove Sonko from his position as prime minister earlier in the year. Despite the split, Sonko retains significant influence as leader of Pastef and currently serves as Speaker of the National Assembly, where the party maintains a strong parliamentary majority.
The formation of the new party signals a deepening divide within the ruling camp and is likely to reshape Senegal’s political dynamics. It also comes at a time when the country is dealing with economic concerns linked to revelations of previously misreported public debt, adding further pressure to an already evolving political environment.
